Vent and filling device



oct. 29,. 1940. E W- SMITH 2,220,005

' VENT AND FILLING DEVICE Filed June 4, 1958 @sheets-sheet 1 .E w.` SMITH Oct. 29, 1940.'

VENT AND FILLING DEV`ICE 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 4. 1938 Odg www

E. w. SMITH VENT AND FILLING DEVICE Filed June 4, 1958 s sheets-sheet 5 WwW/'0k Ear/ward Wmg Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED sTATasrATENT OFFICE.

VENTAND FILLING DEVICE Edward w. smith, Philadelphia, Pa., mignontov The Electric Storage Battery Company, Phila-v delphia, Pa., a corporation -oi' New Jersey Application June 4, 193s, serial No. 211,109

4 calma (o1. 13s-1ra) Fig. 1 is a topo'r'plan view-oi a storage battery cell.

l15 Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal cross-section of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical, transverse section of the device shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of a portion of a 90 modified form of storage battery cell cover and terminal posts.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the cell cover lshown in Fig. 4 with parts broken away in vertical crosssection.

Fig. 6 is 4a top or plan view of a portion of a second modified form of .cell cover and terminal posts. v

Fig. 'l is a side elevation of the modification shown in Fig. 6 with parts broken away in ver*l o tical cross-section.

Fig. 8 is a topA or plan view of a third modified form of cell cover and terminal posts.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the modification shown in Fig. 8 with parts broken away in vertical crossas section. l Y

Fig. 10 is a top or plan view of the vent plug shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a side view of the vent plug shown in Fig. 10.

o Figs. l, 2 and 3 show the simplest embodiment of the principle while the other. figures s'how various modifications of detail, the same numbers always referring to the same or corresponding parts in whatever design used. Figa 1 and 2 show the upper. part of a cell, having the cover I sealed in place by means of sealing compound i8. The terminals i 9 of the battery are shown as projecting through the cover and tightly sealed therein; but the details of this form `no part of thisinvention. The cover I is provided with a. downwardly projecting tube 2 having a large opening 3 ltherethrough and suitable for the introduction of water or for the insertion of a hydrometer `syringe in order t0 take speciilc gravity-'readings. The tube 2 projects downward into the cell to the point of the highest level to which it is desired to ll with water when ilushing, this level being indicated at 20. Adjacent tube 2, with its opening 3, is another small opening 4 6 through the cover suitable for a gas vent, but much too small to be.. used for flushing purposes. Beneath opening 4 may be provided a'baille Iii. It will thus be seen that, underneath the cover,r there is what may be calledia gas chamber 21,'10 above the electrolyte level,` and closed tightly except for the two openings 3 and 4. Onthe top of the cover is a raised runway 6 and on this runway is a slider 5 engaging with the runway by overhanging flanges, as shown, so that it may slide from end-to-end but is held closely down to the upper surface of the runway. The slider 5, as shown in Fig. 2, is curved slightly downward at its middle for the double purpose of insuring that it iits tightly on top of the runway and also providing a small amount of fric. tion to prevent the slider from moving from sideto-side with vibration of the battery. The slider is restricted'in its motion by a slight projection l at each end of the runway, one or both of said 25 projections being so slight as to permit the slider to be placed upon the runway. by bending the middle portions upwards. y

The operation of the device is as follows: When it is desired to flush the een with water, the slider. 20 5 is pushed to one side so as to uncover the filling tube 3 (that is to say, into the opposite position'` to that shown in Fig. 1) and at the same time to automatically close the vent opening 4. Water may then be freely introduced into the cellf 35 through opening 34 until the level rises inside the cell to the bottom of tube 2. At this point, further exit of the air from the gas chamber 2l is cut off so that no more water will descend through the tube but will at once rise in the tube, or even 0 overflow, thusindicating to the operator that the charging is continued for a considerable period after gassing has commenced. During this time,

it is important to take several readings of specific I gravity with a hydrometer syringe in order to determine when sunicient equalizing-charge has been given. To take the specific gravity readings, it is necessary that the filling opening be uncovered so as to permit insertion of the hydrometer syringe. With the level-limiting device now used,

this requires removal of the vent plug but, due to the level-limiting feature, this also causes closure of the vent and thus leaves the gas chamber 2| completely sealed above the high level line.

Before equalizing-charge is to be given a battery, it is usual to adjust the electrolyte by adding water to the proper level; that is, until the electrolyte surface reaches the bottom of tube 2.

During the equalizing-charge, vas soon as gassing commences, the electrolyte level is appreciably raised by the presence of gas bubbles entrained in the electrolyte, and thus. the filling opening 3 is sealed against exit of gas from'the gas chamber. 'Ihe gas which now rapidly accumulates in the chamberthus exerts a pressure on top ofv the electrolyte, forcing it up through the filling opening 3 and flooding the top of the cell. This flooding is very detrimental in two respects: first. that it causes loss of electrolyte; and, second, that it promotes corrosion of any metal parts which may happen to be adjacent the battery.

The present invention overcomes this objection since the slider may be pushed into a mid-posi tion from that shown in Figs. 1 and 3, uncovering simultaneously both the vent opening 4 and a portion of the filling opening 3. With the slider in this position,vit is possible to take specific gravity readings by inserting the hydrometer syringe v through the filling opening .3 while, at the same time, the vent opening 4 permits of the' exit of gas from the top of the gas chamber and thus ob- .ceive it.

viates the flooding of the cell.

Another embodiment of the device is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As here illustrated, the movable piece 5B, instead of sliding, is arranged around a.

pivot 8,so as to open and close the two openings 3 and l4 in the'same way as already described.

. The slider is held in position, in this case, by an A third modification of the device is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, wherein the slider is -made in two parts Il and III, I0 on top of the cover and I0 below, and the two fastened togetherY by means of a boss Il' and pin I2s0 that, when the upper slider-ll is moved by means of the wing I3, the two sliders work as one. The object ofthis arrangement is to secure greater tightness of the vent opening 4 by having closure both on top and bottom ofthe cover, the lower surfaces being generally wet vand hence likely to seal more tightly. The two `parts of the slider also afford a convenient means of establishing friction between them; 'so asto prevent displacement of thesliderA i when the battery issubiect to vibration in a car.

A further modification is shown inFigs. 8, 9, 10

and 11, wherein the slider il consists of a disk provided with a' holefli, which may be turned soV as to uncover either ythe hole l .ofthe S vent 4, and also with a smaller opening I4 so that, when desired, during periods of equalizingcharge, both openings 3 and 4 may be opened simultaneously. The top of the cover,.with which the slide disk 5| contacts, is made slightly convex and the disk is held in place upon the cover by means of a split ring 52, as shown in Fig. 9.

This arrangement again affords the necessary friction to prevent the disk from turning freely and also holds it tightly down so as to secure closure of the vents 3 and 4, as desired.

It will be obvious to anyone skilled in the art that numerous modications of the design may be made, other than the four illustrated, which, however, are suiilcient to indicate the novel features involved in the invention. A few such variations of design are as follows.

Since it is'especially important that the vent opening 4 be closed tightly while water is being introduced in opening 3, the portion of cover surrounding this opening may be slightly raised, as indicated at i1, in Figs. 1 and 3. This raised portion insures. contact with the slider, no matter which of the designs is used, and practically insures a tight seal.

Another renement shown in several ofthe de signs consists in placing a small chamber 53 directly below the gas vent 4 and providing a perforated disk !6 for the purpose of arresting. any spray that may be formed within the cell (see Fig. 3).

Also, if necessary, slight notches and projections may be provided on the various slides to act in conjunction with the friction and further lock the slider in one or other of the desired positions. In Figs. 1 and 3, this projection is shown at I1, being the same which has been already men. tioned as insuring a tight closure of the gas vent 4. In Fig. 4, a notch or depression 60 and a cooperating button or projection 6| are shown. vIn

any of the designs mentioned, a suitable knob or wing may be provided for moving the slider. In general, it is t0 be assumed that the slider would be made of hard rubber or other suitable acid-resisting and resilient material. I y

The device described has several advantages o'ver existing types of vent plugs intendedgenerally to accomplishthe same purpose. Among these may be mentioned the following, Y The device is all self-contained,so that there is no removable part which may bev lost, as is the case with present vent plugs when they are removed for the purpose of iillingthe cells.

It does not depend on any compressible/soft rubber parts which are employed in some existing devices of the same kind.'

The device makes it possible, by setting'the slider in a mid-position, to have both vent and lling tubes open at the same time and thus permit of taking gravity readings with a hydrometer through the large opening without danger of flooding the cell due to the charge.

gas generated during I do not intend to be limited save as the scope v of the prior art and of the attached claims may reduire.

1. A storage battery having a container provided with a lling opening therethrough communicating with the interior at the level desired tobe the normal electrolyte level and provided witha vent vtherethrough communicating with `the interior above the normal electrolyte level, i

A.and aclosure'member movably mounted on said containerj'and of a size larger than said 'filling vided with a iilling opening therethrough vcommunicating with the interior at the level desired to be the normal electrolyte level and provided with a vent therethrough 'communicating withl the interior above'the normal electrolyte level, a closure member movably mounted on said container and of a Vsize larger than said iilling openy ing and than said vent and of a sizelrelati'veto the distance between themto 'close either said` lling opening or saidvent or to' occupya'n inter# latch saidclosure member in one position.

mediate position invwhich both said vent and said iilling opening are at least partially open,and co` operating members on said container .and on said closure member arrangedY to' interengage. 'and to 13. A storage battery-having a container provided with a iiiling opening therethrough .com-

municating with the interior at a level desired to be the normal 'electrolyte' level -and provided with a' vent therethrough communicating with the in-` terior at 'a level-above said normal electrolyte'. level, a closure member mounted form'ovement von said container and of a sizelarger than said 4iilling opening and than said vent and oi a size 'relative to 'the distance betweenv them vto close said filling opening or said vent or -to occupy an intermediate position in which both said vent and said filling opening are at least partially open,` andinterengaging means on said container'l and on said elosure'member,` at least one of said means being suiiiciently iiexible t o bend and thus to permit mounting of said closure member o n K said container.

4. A storage battery havinga container provided with a filling 'opening therethrough com-,- municating with the interior at the level desired to be the .normal electrolyte level and provided 15 with a venttherethrough'spaced from said nll'ing opening `and communicating with the interior y above the normal electrolyte level; and a closure means movably mounted on said container Aso as to occupy three positions` of rest thereon, said '20 .closure 'means closing said filling opening in one .extreme position and closing said vent in another extreme position or occupying. an intermediate Y position in which both said've'nt'and saidlling opening are at least partially open, said filling 25 opening being sumciently open toprovide for'the y.insertlon ofen hydrometer syringe.

EDWARD W. SMITH. 

